Automatic fountain-valve for locomotives.



E. N. YEAMANS;

AUTOMAUC FOUNTAIN VALVE FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4; I9l6.

41,260,739. ?atentedMar. 26,1918.

- INVENTOR 5 TTORNE VS f Lesoxaa UNITED srarres PATENT ore-ion.

EUGENE N. YEAMANS, OF GITRUSGRQVE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE YEAMANS CGMPANY, A GDRPORATZOH OF TEXAS.

AUTOMATIG FOUNTAliN-VALVE FOR IDCOIVIOTEVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Faten'ted Mar. 26, 1918.

Application filed April 4., 1916. serial No. cares.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enema N. YEAMANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Citrusgrove, in the county of Matagorda and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic 1 ountain-Valves tor Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic fountain valve for locomotives.

The object of the invention is to provide a .valve of the character described which will be automatically closed in case of overturning of the locomotive so as to effectually cut off all escaping steam from broken pipes to prevent the scalding of the enginemen who may be trapped in the cab.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein g Figure 1 is'a sectional side elevation of the fountain showing the valve applied theretoh. I i y Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation showing the locomotive in overturned position and the valve closed, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve seat enr ploy'ed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of refer-- ence designate similar parts, in each oi the figures the numeral 1 refers to the locomotive boiler, having the t'oiilntain" bolted or otherwise secured thereto and formed of the neck 2 and the T 3. This T has the injector pipe 4:, 4, leading therefrom in opoosite directions. In actual use 21* number oi other pipes lead from this fountain but it has-not. been thought necessary to show them for .tho purpose of illustrating the valve herein described; it is to be noted, however. that practically all of the steam utilized for the various purposes ot the locomotive, excepting the motive steam for driving the same, is discharged through this fountain.

Screwed in the neck 2 is valve seat 5. whose inner side has the concavcd recess 6 and whose outer side has the hexagonal clevation 7 for the reception of a wrench tor sc wing and unscrewing the seat and this seat is provided with a plurality of steam passageways 8 therethrough. Alined Withis an orifice through the T the neck 2 3, which is normally closed by means of a gland 9, which is screwed therein. The seat 5 and gland 9 have central alined orifices forming bearings for the valve rod 10, Whose inner end projects into the boiler and has fixed thereon the ball valve 11 of a contour to fit closely in the recess 6 when seated. Secured to the gland 9 and surrounding-the rod 10 is a bushing 12, which is extended inwardly forming a sleeve 13 around the rod 10 and the portion of said rod Within said sleeve is enlarged so that should the exposed portion of the rod become corroded or roughened it will still slide freely through said bushing. The outer end of the rod 10 has a collar 1% fixed thereon and interposed between said collar and bushing and surrounding said rod is a coil spring 15. Fasten-ed to the gland 9 and upstanding therefrom are the oppositely arranged fieXible clamps 16, 16. Only two clamps are shown but if desired "tour or more mayv be employed, said clamps being preferably spaced a uniform distance apart to form a holder for the ball 17, which, when in position in said holder, rests against the outer end oi. the rod 10 and holds the valve 11 unseated. This ball is anchored to the rod It) by means of a chain or cable 18, In case of accident should the boiler be overturned the ball 1'? will be displaced as shown in Fig. 2 and the resistance of the spring 15 assisted by the steam pressure against the valve 11 will seat said valve and cut off the passage of steam through the passageways 8. All steam will thus be trapped in the boiler and prevented from escaping through the steam pipe; which are usually broken in case of accident, scalding those trapped in the cab ofthc iocomotive.

is .ott-en desirable to close said valve and shut the steam from the fountain for the purpose of repairing the injector or the steam pipes, which may become broken or got out of order and "for that purpose a cable 19 is attached to the ball 17 and passes I lit "the fountain.

rior Of the boiler and this by-pass is normally closed by the ball valve 22, which is controlled by the stem 22. When it is desired to equalize the steam pressure on opposite sites of the valve 11* the steam pipes leading from the fountain will be closed and the bypass 21 opened, thus admitting steam into The valve 11 may then be easily opened and the ball 17 replaced to hold it open and the by-pass 21 then closed; The valve will then be in position for its normal action as hereinbefore exphrinrnl.

What I claim i v In a device of the character described, the 'ceznbination with a boiler, of a T- fountain connected thereto and leading therefrom, a valve seat secured in the neck of said fountain having steam passageways therethrough, ava'lve stem slidable through said seat, a valve secured to the inner end f sald stem and closm said passagewa s when seated, at IIBSllIGIlt member acting against said stem and tendi .g to hold said .valve closed, a displacem t weigl'it normally resting against the 0 ter end of said stem and holding said valve open, flexible clampsv holding said weight in normal posi tion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 1 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE N. YEAMANS.

Witnesses ANN'm L. CARY, J. W. Woons. 

